Thursday, June 25, 2009

Well here we are folks. It's one of the most enjoyable nights of the year and it's become a fun tradition here at AA. There will be photos, videos, analysis and fun all evening long, so comment early and comment often. We'll get underway around 7pm but in the meantime feel free to click through last year's live blogs, and leave your predictions in the comments.

Okay all, I'm here and ready to go. Was just checking out all the MJ news, and the support in LA is amazing. Whether or not you believed the allegations against him or not, there wasn't a person in the world who wasn't touched by his music at some point or another.

With that said, what's the over/under on the number of minutes before ESPN tries a tribute piece?

"I believe it's a very deep draft!"- Dick Vitale

You hear that Bilas? Vitale is trying to best you for biggest over-statement of the Draft! Don't take that nonsense!!! David Stern is kicking this thing off with his cheesy "hard work" speech and we're underway!

"It's a very rowdy group tonight."- David Stern

YES! Thank goodness something in this Draft will be entertaining. DANNY MANNING, CLAP CLAP CLAPCLAPCLAP!!! Clippers on the clock.

"Clippers frantically looking over their notes to see if they should take Griffin or a new prospect they just discovered, Patrick Chewing." (Via Lammy)

Hahahaha. Too funny._____________________________

1. Blake GriffinPF, 6'10", 248 lbsOklahoma

You think the Clippers could have gotten Griffin to wear red or something. That purple is a little nasty. Oh and the Clippers Draft Room is clapping for themselves. Really? REALLY?!?! That took a lot of thought. Oh and eff you Clippers for wasting five minutes of our lives!

"Mark Jones is just a horrible host. He used to be good but he has gone off the cheesy end." (Via SS Reporters)

Ain't that the truth! ESPN now scores an interview with Bill Simmons' new nemesis, Mike Dunleavy. Who ironically is the only GM-Coach combo in the NBA.______________________________

2. Hasheem ThabeetC, 7'3", 267lbs.Connecticut

"Did the Commissioner just say Tanzania? Yes he did!"- Stuart Scott

Ugh. Stuart Scott just broke the annoying sound barrier. This could be a worse pick than Kandi Man. He's just too slow for the NBA. Basketball has been berry berry good to Hasheem!

I love the Mark Jackson assessments down the bottom....Sacramento "Need a Point Guard"

Harden is another person I predict as a bust in the NBA, but I like the kid, so I hope he proves me wrong. If the Kings don't take Rubio, they deserve to have the most lottery balls for their existence.

And now we watch Ricky Rubio fall to New York, the only team that can pay his fee. Damn, the Wiz could have had Jason Williams 2.0!______________________________

5. Ricky RubioPG, 6'5", 180lbs.Spain

There's not a chance in hell that Rubio weighs 180lbs, ESPN! Oh and the Knicks fans chiming in with the USA chants was priceless. If the Timberwolves select Stephen Curry next, I'm going to lose it. Hey, a Fran Fraschilla sighting! Drink!!!

"He's got a Gretzky like feel for the game of basketball."- Fran Frashcilla

"Oh THATS where Spain is? Thanks ESPN." (Via Lammy)

Great use of the World Map, ESPN. And Jemele Hill's tweet comparing Rubio to Balky from Perfect Strangers was priceless.______________________________

6. Johnny FlynnPG, 6'1", 196lbs.Syracuse

Wow. Didn't think they would pick two point guards, especially playing in the West. Johnny Flynn is going to be a good NBA player.....when he gets traded away from Minnesota. If anyone can get me that ESPN puzzle piece in front of Mark Jones, I will pay them top dollar. I want to hang that above my fireplace.

"He's got one of the best smiles in this Draft class"- Mark Jones

Great analysis there.______________________________

7. Stephen CurryPG, 6'3", 181lbs.Davidson

"I didn't realize there were so many fans who hated the Golden State Warriors."- Stu Scott

I know the Knicks fans are booing now, but TRUST ME....this is for the best. Pick DeMar DeRozan and love watching him dominate over the next few years. Oh and get this little rumor....Rubio is heading to the Knicks. So just relax.

"He's got real good maturity."- Jay Bilas (Via 49er16)

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8. Jordan HillPF, 6'10", 232lbs.Arizona

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

That shows you how much Knicks fans know about Basketball. I think DeRozan would have been the better pick since they already have David Lee, but Hill is a beast. Good pick, but he might be traded to Minnesota soon.

Is it just me or does Donnie Walsh look like he's in the mob?______________________________

9. DeMar DeRozanG, 6'6", 211lbs.USC

Hello Tracy McGrady 2.0! Great pick for the Raptors there. Wait, did DeMar just use the word "defensicality"? Jay Bilas would like a word with you!!!

"People leaving draft in droves. Only in NY. Come to boo and leave." (Via Darren Rovell on Twitter)

Thanks for the infomercial on the public transportation, Mark Jones. Signed, Toronto (Via 49er16)______________________________

10. Brandon JenningsPG, 6'2", 165lbs.Compton/Italy

Well I guess you can now say averaging 4.0ppg in Europe will help your draft status. Sorry David Stern.

"He's got a chance to be very very good."- Jay Bilas

Ummm....can't you say that about everybody in the Draft?

"He didn't go to Europe to improve his draft status! He went to Europe to GET PAID." (Via Free Darko on Twitter)

Good point. And now he gets to go to Milwaukee. Screw Italy....Milwaukee is where it's at!!!!

______________________________

11. Terrence WilliamsSG, 6'6", 212lbs.Louisville

"Terrence Williams says he doesn't watch ESPN...."- Stu Scott

Guess who's my new favorite player! Lebron and Williams in 2010!!!

"Shout out to Jay Bilas. He's a great guy, even though he went to Duke."- Terrence Williams

And now it's time to watch Michael Jordan botch a draft pick! Who's ready for Tyler Hansbrough!!!!______________________________

12. Gerald HendersonSG, 6'5", 215lbs.Duke

I'd just love it if one year the Bobcats would draft out of state.

Of course Jay Bilas loves Henderson. Bilas proabably thinks he should have been the first pick. (Via 49er16)

Henderson is one of only a few players Jordan actually saw for Charlotte. Can't believe he made this pick without doing any leg work. (Via TheJonLee on Twitter)______________________________

13. Tyler HansbroughPF, 6'10", 234lbs.UNC

And the Knicks fans are right on queue with the chant of OVER-RATED!!! Is anybody completely bored with the Draft at this point?

"It's okay if you want to stay all four years."- Jeff Van Gundy

Well not normally, but okay. Tyler already has the standard/boring answers down pat. 110% Baby!!!!!! Where's Dickie V???

There are going to be tons of mormons rioting in the streets of Salt Lake tonight because Hansbrough didn't go to the Jazz. (Via Lammy)______________________________

Ummm....when did the Timberwolves become the Lions??? There's no doubt that Rubio is heading to NYC, right? Oh wait....Ty Lawson is going to Denver apparently.

wanna bet that last Minny pick was part of a trade ??? anyone ? (Via Mark Cuban on Twitter)

"You can't play everyone." - JVG (Via JFein)

GENIUS!!!!______________________________

19. Jeff TeagueG, 6'1", 175lbs.Wake Forest

Worst defender in the draft. Terrible pick of Teague by the Hawks, who just traded for Jamal Crawford. Just a terrible pick. Got a dollar says the Jazz pick BJ Mullens....______________________________

20. Eric MaynorPG, 6'3", 164lbs.VCU

Wow. Interesting pick since they already have Deron Williams in the backcourt. They could send Brewer to the three though, and have a two guard lineup. Intriguing.

Great....a Larry Brown interview. And thank you Knicks fans for once again booing on queue.______________________________

21. Darren CollisonPG, 6'1", 166lbs.UCLA

Yes! We have our first player who wasn't invited to the Draft making his way through the fans!!! Always the best move at the Draft. Nothing like having hostile New York fans throwing stuff at you as you surprise David Stern on stage. Good times.

Seriously, how do the Hornets take this guy ahead of Blair? You can get a reliable 10-minute backup PG for $1M this summer. (Via John Hollinger on Twitter)

I don't know about that one. I like the backup point guard move at this point. Plus I want Blair to slip to the Wiz at the top of round two.______________________________

22. Victor ClaverF, 6'9", 224lbs.Spain

Forget the Portland foreigner....Shaq is talking about Mike Jackson! Couldn't ESPN have done better than a conference call with Lisa Salters!?!?!?! Stop talking over the Diesel, woman!!! Worst. Interview. Ever.

Shaq says "I've always been a team player." Somwhere Kobe is laughing out loud. (Via Skip Bayless on Twitter)______________________________

23. Omri CasspiF, 6'9", 211lbs.Israel

The fact that someone was holding up a "Jordan" jersey in front of all the Israeli flags in the stands. MIDDLE EAST REPRESENT!!!!

"They better have good flafel in Sacramento!"- Fran Fraschilla______________________________

24. BJ Mullens (To OKC for Rodrigue Beaubois)7'1", 258lbs.Ohio State

Wow....Mark Cuban has been focusing all of his attention on bloggers, and not on the Draft. When have the Mavericks ever had a real center on their team? Answer....never.______________________________

That's it for me tonight. Just don't have it in me to stick with this for a whole second round full of foreign players. Thanks for joining in, and I'll have some quotes and videos tomorrow. I'll be on Twitter @ http://www.twitter.com/awfulannouncing, so we can all continue this party there if you'd like.

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Comments:

This is such a weak draft.

Predictions: James Harden will be a bust. The Knicks will pick somebody no one has ever heard of.

Guarantees: The Sonics won't pick this year. If anyone plays the NBA Draft Drinking Game (because this broadcast will be a trainwreck) then I'll probably be the only one who isn't trashed by the 5th pick.

As far as the draft goes, while my Sixers need a PG and Ty Lawson seems to be the most likely choice for them, it puts me in a conundrum because it would be a good pick for them, but at the same time, I've always never liked UNC basketball and I really can't picture myself getting excited over Ty Lawson coming to Philly.

I'm still on the fence about the Wizards/Wolves trade, but its hard to believe that THAT was the best thing they could get. You'd think that a team as guard heavy as them would oh I dunno, get some front line help or something?

"This is the 2nd deepest team in basketball behind the Lakers." - Mark Jackson on the Trail Blazers"I think.....are you crazy?" - JVG"I was about to ask you the same thing 10 minutes ago." - Mark Jackson